Errison stopped walking and turned to face the two of them. He folded his hands in front of him.
“Do you trust me?”
Raina nodded slowly. “Yes. We trust you,” she said. “We will do whatever it takes.”
“Good,” Errison said, turning away from them once again. “Because the crown prince could use some extra protection.”
After supper, Allan walked the gardens. Each blooming flower reminded him of home where their mother loved to plant only the most rare of plant species. None of them were present in the monastery’s garden, but he enjoyed looking at them and smelling their scent.
The girl from earlier, with the short brown hair and green eyes sat on a bench with a blank piece of parchment on her lap and a quill in her hand.
“Evening,” he said to her.
Her eyes flickered up to catch a glance of him, and then went back to her parchment.
“Evening,” she said softly.
Allan put his hands in his pocket and stepped closer to her. “Any chance you know what the white flowers are called?”
She didn’t even look up. “They’re called gardenias.”
Allan nodded. “Oh. Thank you. Peculiar name for a flower. What’s yours?”
She lowered her quill and looked up at him, her eyes worried.
Allan couldn’t make sense of why she would look at him in that way. He turned away from her.
“Never mind,” he said. “Have a good night.”
“Olia,” she called after him.
Allan paused.
“My name is Olia.”
Smiling, Allan glanced back at her. “Now that,” he said. “Is a beautiful name.”
THE JOURNEY TO Rhene’s capital city was longer and colder than Raina and Allan anticipated. Neither had experienced such a bitter chill and kept their fur cloaks pulled tight. In just a few days they’d seen so much of the world they’d been led to believe was a desolate place. Despite the cold, it was still the most beautiful place Raina had ever seen.
Littered with giant birds and sweet pink fruit that hung low from white trees, The Meadows of Balston were Raina’s favorite. Somehow seeing all of those new things helped ease her sorrow for the loss of her mother and father. The fact that she would never see their faces again still hadn’t settled in.
On the ninth day, Raina and Allan were exhausted from riding since dawn. The horses were tied to a tree while Errison, Olia, Raina and Allan sat in a clearing around a fire.
While Allan read from the tiny journal Errison gave to them to study, Raina warmed her hands as close to the flames as she could risk. Pulling her cloak closer to her body, she watched Errison who seemed unaffected by the cold.
Errison ran his fingers through his long beard as he stared into the flames, without blinking.
“Is it done yet, Errison? I can hear my stomach yelling at me.” Raina eyed the skinned rabbit that was settled on the fire. The smell was driving her mad. Her stomach grumbled so loud that she was sure Errison and Allan heard it.
Errison seemed to snap out of his thoughts.
“I believe it is,” he said.
“Oh don’t worry,” Olia said. “I’ll check it.”
Olia scooted closer to the fire, and unwrapped her wool blanket from around her arms. She pulled the cooked rabbit from the fire.
“It’s ready,” she said. She pulled the meat from the bones, and handed it to everyone in clay bowls.
“Thank you.” Raina eagerly accepted the bowl with both hands. “I still can’t believe you caught all of those rabbits, Olia.”
Allan glanced up from his studying at Olia.
She blushed. “It was nothing, really. My father taught all of his children how to trap their own dinner. We spent a lot of time traveling,” Olia said, settling back down in her spot nestled by a tree. “He was a traveling musician. He played for all kinds of people.”
Raina wasted no time before she began eating. “That’s nice,” she said, focusing her attention on savoring every bite of this new kind of food. They hadn’t eaten anything but bread along with the preserved fruit during most of their journey.
“Eat, Allan,” Raina said, handing him a bowl. “You’ve barely eaten anything today. You can study later.”
Allan nodded. He sniffed the rabbit meat. “We are supposed to eat flesh while we are here?”
Olia’s face turned pink.
“It’s nothing against you, Olia. Honestly,” he said, reaching a hand out in apology. “We just never ate things like this in Aden.”
“Yes,” Errison said. “Humans eat meat. You’ll like it.”
Allan made a face of disgust. “I’m not sure about that.”
“Try it,” Olia said with a smile.
“Go on, Allan. It’s good. I promise,” Raina said, licking the seasoned oil from her fingers.
With a sigh, Allan tasted a piece. The lines in his forehead relaxed and he ate another piece. “I suppose it’s tolerable,” he said, returning Olia’s smile.
That girl could probably get Allan to do anything. Raina smiled and held out her bowl for more.
Errison gave her another chunk of juicy meat.
“You’ll get used to it,” Errison said. It’ll give you the energy you need to survive in this world.”
Raina stuffed a piece of meat into her bread. “How long have you been here, Errison?”
Errison ate a chunk of hardened bread. “Too long to remember. I stopped counting the years a long time ago. Maybe two hundred years.”
“That’s an awfully long time. Do you miss your home in Aden?” She unbraided her hair so that it could rest against her cold ears. She pulled her fur hood back over her head and rubbed her hands together before the fire once more.
Looking up at the clear night sky, Errison smiled. “Yes, Raina, very much. “I miss my friends.” His eyes lowered. “And my family.”
Raina looked from Olia to Allan, and back to Errison. “I think we all miss our loved ones.”
“True.” Errison checked the broth he’d made from dried onions and potatoes. Nodding for them to hold out their bowls, he dipped a cup into the delicious smelling broth.
Raina slurped soup as soon as her bowl was full. She winced as she burned her tongue.
“You’ll need to let it cool,” Errison said.
“I’m so tired of being hungry,” Raina said, looking into her bowl at the steam that rose.
After months of being nearly starved to death in the Vault, their time in the human world was only slightly better. She missed the freedom she had at home to eat when and how much she wanted. She’d never take a full belly for granted again.
“In the capital city you’ll have plenty to eat,” Errison assured her.
Allan set his bowl beside him, only bones left inside of it. He pulled his cloak tight and settled back against a large fallen tree trunk.
“I was reading about what Seers duties are,” Allan said. “Raina and I are to tutor the royal children?”
“Raina will tutor. The royal family has three children. There are two princes, Eryon and Aric. They are older than the two of you by a few years. The eldest has a small trace of an ancient bloodline from one of the lesser gods of the old days when the gods used to live amongst the humans. Then there is the youngest, Arela. That’s who you will tutor, Raina. The royal family has been trained and tutored by the Seers since the nine tribes broke off into kingdoms.”
Raina swallowed a gulp of hot broth. “I can do that. Sounds easy enough. What better person to train you in the matters of the gods than an actual god?”
“Precisely,” Errison said.
“And what will I do?”
“I have something very special in mind for you, Allan. I can tell you like to study and read.”
Allan nodded.
“It’s all he used to do back in Latari,” Raina said. She’d always ran and played outside as a child, while Allan stayed inside with his countless scrolls and stories.
“Well, how
do you feel about translating the ancient scrolls into the human tongue?”
Allan’s eyes brightened. “I’d like that very much. How many are there?”
Errison shrugged. “Hundreds, probably.”
Raina laughed. “You probably just made Allan the happiest god alive.”
Her heart warmed at the smile on her brother’s face.
“Olia will remain in the city to help you with anything you need when I leave for the monastery. She will set up a dress shop,” Errison said.
Olia smiled. “Mother was a dressmaker. She taught me everything.”
“Sounds like you have quite a few tricks up your sleeve,” Raina said.
Olia nodded.
“Get some rest now, we have much ground to cover tomorrow morning.” Errison covered himself with his cloak and settled down on his pallet made of leather and wool.
Raina followed his example and pulled her fur over her as she bunched up a portion of the pallet beneath her head.
As she stared up at the stars, she pictured her mother and father, and how they used to smile at Preeti and Vineet.
She wondered if they approved of their new identities.
Were they proud of them for surviving Litha’s treachery?
Desi stirred, warming Raina from the necklace against her chest.
You’re not quite free of her yet.
Each day that brought them closer to Rhene, left Allan feeling less and less connected to the place of their birth. Two weeks had passed and the realization of how massive this world was astounded both Allan and his sister.
Aden was their home, but the Abyss…this beautiful place with its ever changing landscape and even lovelier women called to him.
Before they reached the shining silver gates of Rhene’s capital city, Allan had already read the journal Errison gave them.
Twice.
He knew everything there was to know about the duty of a Seer. Retaining knowledge was one of Allan’s greatest strengths. There were times that he had to help Raina when they were quizzed by their tutor. Raina was always the free-spirited one, the one that found joy in their weapons and tactical training.
Fighting wasn’t for Allan, but he kept that knowledge in his reserves, for when he needed it.
“Raina,” he said as they led their horses on a slow trot along a heavily trafficked path that led to the gates.
“Yes, Allan?”
“Look,” he said, nodding to the distance. He looked in awe at the palace that stood out against the background of other buildings and a mountain that towered behind it.
“It’s stunning,” Raina said.
“I’ve been here at least ten times by now, and it only gets more enchanting each time,” Olia said, her eyes fixed on the palace. “I’ve never had the pleasure of staying at the palace though. You two are lucky for the opportunity.”
Allan hoped that wherever her dress shop would be located wouldn’t be too far from the palace. “Don’t worry, Olia. We will visit you often.”
She smiled, her eyes brightening as she looked at Allan. “I hope so.”
“Representatives from the nine kingdoms are all assembling in the city for the annual spring festival. So the two of you need to blend in more than ever,” Errison told them.
“Shouldn’t be a problem,” Allan said. “They’ve descended from our race, so I honestly don’t think the humans will suspect a thing.
He had everything he needed with him. With his sister by his side, he was confident that they might actually be able to wait out their three years to Enlightenment.
“Not at all,” Raina added. “We will be good.”
“I hope so,” Errison said. “For your sakes.”
“WHEN WILL YOU visit Brenton,” Princess Pria asked Prince Aric while he licked cream and honey from her navel.
Aric looked into her eyes with a wicked grin. “When you break your engagement with that old man you’re to marry.”
Pria rolled her eyes. “He is not just an old man. He is the king of Lhionaire, the second biggest kingdom of the nine. It’s even bigger than yours,” she said, grabbing a fistful of his long blond hair. “Now get back up here.”
Her lips tasted as sweet as the honey they shared on the tiny toasts his servant had placed on the floor next to Aric’s pallet.
He deepened the kiss, exploring the soft wetness of her tongue. He bit her lower lip. “Its fine if you won’t leave King Ellid for me. You’re too old for me anyway.”
Pria’s face reddened. She extended her arm between them, pushing him away.
“You are such an insufferable bastard,” she said climbing up from the plush blankets and pillows.
Aric rolled over onto his back, his head resting on his folded arm.
“I was joking,” he said. You’re not that old.”
She glared at him. “You better be ready tomorrow,” she hissed, putting her simple green dress back on.
“I’m always ready,” Aric said, grinning.
“Good,” she said as she tied her bow around her waist. “Because I plan to grind your face into the coliseum floor. With my boot.”
Laughing, Aric came to his feet. Naked, he walked over to her. She was angry. He couldn’t let her leave with a frown on her face.
What would people think? What would that do to his reputation?
She huffed as he approached her.
“Get away from me, you brute.”
“Come now,” Aric said, unfolding her arms from across her chest. “You have to know that I was only joking. I adore you.”
Pria glared up at him, but as planned, his charming smile softened her face. She sighed and kissed him on the cheek.
“How can I stay upset when your eyes remind me of the sky on a summer day?”
Aric tilted his head. “When did you become a poet?”
She grinned at him as he leaned down to kiss her on the lips.
“Goodnight, Pria,” he said. He opened his door to let her out into the corridor of the east wing of the Rhene palace.
Her guards waited outside his door, ready to escort her to the west wing where all of the royal guests were staying. Two burly men in the customary blue and white armor of Brenton. They averted their eyes from Aric’s nude body.
Aric nodded to them. “Make sure she gets back safely.”
Once Pria turned the corner, he closed his door and hurried to change into his clothes.
If he was quick enough, he could head to the tavern in the Lower City for a mug of mead.
Aric quickly pulled on his brown leather pants and a white blouse. With his pants tucked into his boots, he was prepared to blend in with the common folk. He pulled his long hair into a sloppy ponytail and put a cap on.
The night was still new for Aric, despite those in the palace preparing for bed. They’d all wake up early for the last day of tournaments, but Aric didn’t need a full night’s sleep.
He needed excitement.
And possibly another girl to keep him warm for the night.
The night air was fresh and slightly cool as Aric stepped from the side doors of the palace.
He paused when he saw a guarded procession of Seers entering the palace courtyard.
Lifting a brow, his attention went to the female Seer with the bright eyes.
Even in the pale light of the moon, he was astounded by her delicate features. No Seer he had ever seen looked like the maiden before him. Standing only a few feet away, she would hear him if he spoke to her.
What would he say to her, and why would he try?
Seers were chaste and committed to service. There was no point trying to have a conversation with them other than to be lectured on the gods and their history.
But when she glanced at him, he felt the wind change. Something eerie was hidden in eyes. He felt it in his soul that she was special.
She held his gaze for a bit longer than was acceptable for strangers, but Aric didn’t mind. He could revel in her beauty until the end of time.
When she broke their gaze, Aric let out a slow breath.
What had come over him? He turned to continue heading to the Lower City. Brows furrowed, he put his hands in his pocket.
Somehow he felt as if he knew her.
Aric glanced back and nearly lost his footing when he saw her gazing back at him, a glow in her eyes.
A glow?
He shook his head as he left the palace grounds.
It must have been the lighting.
ARIC STOOD AT the center of the grand arena, waiting for the match to begin. The ancient stone coliseum was in excellent condition, as stunning as when it was created thousands of years ago. Comprised of nearly a hundred aisles it reached to the clouds.
Gods had once fought in that same arena.
Being in line for the throne, Aric had always felt the pressure to be the best. The hundreds of spectators cheered him on when he drew his sword.
The crowd wanted a show. He’d give them one that would go down in history.
With his red and gold shield in one hand, his sword in the other, Aric watched as his mother and father arrived.
The cheers rose to a thundering roar as Queen Nevah and King Lavi entered the coliseum.
Aric looked across the platform at his opponent, a female warrior from the western kingdom, Brenton.
Princess Pria watched him, a cocky grin on her beautiful face. She winked at him and turned her attention to his parents.
If they only knew how sneaky their innocent daughter was.
There was no way that he could let that woman beat him. He hid a grin of his own. He’d beat her and bed her again later that evening.
Good plan.
The cheering continued as his parents walked hand-in-hand to the balcony that overlooked the coliseum.
In a slim white gown, Queen Nevah still looked as young as a woman of her late twenties. Aric and she shared the same pale blue eyes and blond hair. Her hair was braided and twisted into a bun that had a golden comb stuffed into it to hold her hair in place.
King Lavi was a stark contrast to his beautiful wife. With olive skin, dark brown hair, and a large muscular frame, he towered over the queen. His thin brown eyes cast a look across the crowd.